Clinic grows to meet demands

By Justin Coons, Rocky Mountain News

Published August 9, 2007 at midnight

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When Cl'nica Tepeyac opened its doors in 1995, it set the humble goal of serving 500 uninsured patients in a year.

Since then, the nonprofit dedicated to helping Denver's uninsured Hispanic population has grown more than just a little.

Hispanics now comprise nearly 35 percent of Denver's population, up from less than 32 percent in 2000.

After recently moving into a new facility, the clinic has expanded from 1,000 to 4,000 square feet. Instead of three treatment rooms, Cl'nica Tepeyac now has seven.

Its operating budget has gone from under $30,000 a year to more than $1 million.

Instead of 500 patients a year, the primary care office, which offers prenatal medicine, end-of-life services and everything in-between, hopes to serve 20,000 people.

Like many of the Denver services that cater to Hispanics, particularly Spanish-speakers, Cl'nica Tepeyac has seen a boom.

"Not only mirroring the increasing number of immigrants that have come to the metro area but also mirroring the number of uninsured," Cl'nica Tepeyac spokesman Jeff Martinez said.

Executive Director David Lack said the sheer number of uninsured patients in Denver has driven most of the growth, but he acknowledged that the increasing number of Hispanics in the metro area has also contributed.

"We could build probably another three or four Cl'nica Tepeyacs and still not be taking care of all of that need," he said.

As Denver's minority population has grown, so has a sizeable percentage of that group, Spanish-speaking Hispanics. Area businesses and services have seized the opportunity to fill the need for Spanish-language services.

Dream Investments Real Estate is one of many Denver real estate companies that offer Spanish-language service.

"The first thing they say is 'Habla Espanol?' Then I say 'Yes, we do,' " Realtor Mel Coronado said.

"If you don't speak it, either they're going to hang up or they'll put their kids on the phone. A lot of people just feel more comfortable speaking in their home language."

In real estate, Coronado said, Spanish isn't required. But it is a valuable asset.

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